Emmanuel Ceysson Appointed Associate Artistic Director of the USAIHC

Bloomington, IN - October 28, 2023

The USA International Harp Competition announces an important transition in leadership since its founding in 1989. Elizabeth Hainen is appointed as their new Artistic Director.  Emmanuel Ceysson is appointed as their new Associate Artistic Director.  Susann McDonald is our Founder and will be Artistic Director Emeritus. Linda Wood Rollo will be our Associate Artistic Director Emeritus. Their dedication and leadership over the past 35 years is unparalleled and has elevated the competition to the world stage as one of the premier solo harp competitions. The board of directors express their deep appreciation for their contributions to this organization and the international harp world. 

Emmanuel Ceysson sweeps away the clichés associated with his instrument with his powerful virtuoso playing. His infectious enthusiasm and boundless energy reveals the harp in all its sparkling splendor, in a world where poetry rhymes with temperament. After nine years as Principal of the Paris Opera and five seasons with the MET Opera Orchestra in New York, he was unanimously chosen to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel in 2020. 

Born and raised in France, he was admitted unanimously as a student of the prestigious Paris Conservatoire at the age of 16, and over the succeeding 10 years collected the highest international distinctions and prizes such as Gold Medalist at the 2004 USA International Harp Competition, first prize at the New York Young Concert Artists Auditions in 2006, and first prize at the 2009 ARD Competition in Munich. He secured a solo career as recitalist in major concert venues such as Carnegie Zankel Hall, Wigmore Hall, Salle Gaveau, Vienna Konzerthaus, Hyogo Concert Hall Japan, and as soloist with orchestras such as Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Deutsche Symphonie Orchester, RAI Orchestra Torino, Orchestre National de Lyon, and Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota. He also has taken part in important music festivals all over the world including the Cartagena Music Festival, the MVP Festival in Germany, the Hong Kong Premiere Performance, and the Caramoor summer season.  As a recording artist his wide discography covers solo, chamber music and concerto harp repertoire with labels such as Naxos, BR Klassik, Naïve, Aparte, and has received praise from the specialized press. 

He also invests time teaching masterclasses worldwide, leading a pro-bono harp development program for Latin America in Colombia, serving as a visiting professor at the London Royal Academy of Music, and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, and leading his harp studios at the New York Mannes School of Music and San Francisco Conservatory.